US Scholar Program

Fulbright-Tocqueville Distinguished Chair Award

For eminent scholars of all disciplines

1 semester in France

Starting date : from January 2019

In 2005, the Franco-American Fulbright Commission, in partnership with the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research and the US Department of State, created the Fulbright-Tocqueville Distinguished Chair Award in commemoration of Alexis de Tocqueville’s 200th birthday and Senator J. William Fulbright’s 100th birthday.

The Distinguished Chair’s objective is to create, develop, and reinforce Franco-American cooperation in the disciplines essential to French and American society and to the mutual understanding of both peoples.

The award aims to reinforce collaborative research between the United States and France in all fields of study. Grantees are invited as guest lecturers and researchers at a host French university, where they have the opportunity to meet French colleagues, to organize and participate in conferences, and to interact with French graduate and doctoral students in their discipline. Grantees will teach courses at the postgraduate level, undertake research, and organize and participate in conferences and seminars related to their area of expertise.

This award is financed jointly by the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research and the Franco-American Commission.

American applications for the 2018-2019 awards must be submitted by September 30, 2017 (deadline extended)

Starting date: from January 2019

Length of stay: 1 semester

Applicants to the Distinguished Chair Award must submit an application through CIES. Prospective host institutions must fill out the Distinguished Chair Host Form, which applicants must then upload to their online application.

Further instructions in French to prospective institutions may be found at: